James Ward Packard (5 November 1863 – 20 March 1928) was an American automobile manufacturer who founded the Packard Motor Car Company and Packard Electric Company with his brother William Doud Packard.[1]
Life and career
Born in Warren, Ohio, the Packard brothers founded Packard Electric Company there in 1890 and manufactured incandescent carbon arc lamps. The brothers then formed a partnership with Winton Motor Carriage Company investor George L. Weiss called Packard & Weiss. The first Packard automobile was released in 1899. In 1900, the company incorporated as the Ohio Automobile Company and was renamed the Packard Motor Car Company in 1902. The company relocated to Detroit in 1903. The company eventually merged with the Studebaker Corporation in 1954, and the last Packard was made in 1958.
Following the company relocation to Detroit, the Packard brothers focused on making automotive electrical systems via the Packard Electric Company. General Motors acquired the company in 1932, renaming it Delphi Packard Electric Systems in 1995. The company was spun off and became independent of GM in 1999.
Packard fell ill three years before his death and spent his last 16 months at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital.[2][3]
Packard Park in Warren, Ohio is on land donated by the Packards. Packard Lab at Lehigh University was funded by him and completed in 1929, the year after he died.[4][5]
References
- ^ Adler, Dennis (2004). Packard. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company, ISBN 9780760319284
- ^ Staff report (April 2, 1928). Death of Packard. Time
- ^ Staff report (March 21, 1928). JAMES W. PACKARD, AUTO PIONEER, DIES; Founder of Manufacturing Concern Bearing His NameLoses Long Fight.NOTED AS PHILANTHROPISTGave $1,000,000 to Lehigh, HisAlma Mater--First Citizen of Warren, Ohio, His Birthplace. New York Times
- ^ Staff report (January 15, 1927). J.W. Packard Gives $1,000,000 to Lehigh To Provide 'Finest' Engineering Laboratory. New York Times
- ^ Staff report (June 7, 1929). Lehigh Laboratory Ready; Gift of James W. Packard Will Be Used for Alumni Homecoming.
External links
- James Ward Packard via Automotive Hall of Fame
- Distinguished Alumni: James Packard ‘84 via Lehigh University
- James Ward Packard at Find a Grave
 |
This article about an American businessperson born in the 1860s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
